The FGCU men's soccer team (8-5-1, 4-1 A-SUN) finished their last home game of the season as they clipped UNF (3-10, 2-3 A-SUN) 5-0 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. With the win, the Eagles are now 10-2-2 overall against the Ospreys.
"We really wanted to get things on track as we get into the final games of the conference, so I thought today was a great step," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "It was one of the games where we finally seemed to compete for 90 minutes and attack. I thought the guys comprehensively and cohesively defended. When these guys come together and are complete, we're tough to beat and we haven't really been able to put that together until now, so we're hopeful we can continue that form going into the weekend."
"FGCU is a good team and very athletic, and we knew that coming into tonight's match," said head coach Derek Marinatos. "I thought we started poorly and dug ourselves into a hole with the 2-0 deficit, and it was unfortunate with our own goal to start the match. Once we were down 2-0, we showed spurts of good soccer and Bryson Smith was great on the right side for us. I really thought we could've had a goal there late in the first half to cut in lead in half. In the second half, we came out feeling like we had to scored and didn't hold onto the ball, and FGCU took advantage by capitalizing on us."
"At the end of the day, we need a point or a win on Saturday at home to keep our season alive and advance to the A-SUN Tournament, but we just got outplayed tonight."
Prior to the start of the match, six seniors were recognized from the Eagles: Jason Van Achteren, Raheem Somersall, Jordan Lue, Dennis Zapata, Preston Kilwien and Kamar Marriott.
Lue, Zapata, Kilwien and Marriott have been on the team since their freshman year. Lue joined FGCU after transferring from UCF.
Van Achteren and Somersall joined FGCU this season. Van Achteren came as an NCAA DII double-transfer after playing his freshman year at Embry-Riddle before transferring to Eastern New Mexico for his sophomore year while Somersall joined FGCU after spending his freshman to junior year at Appalachian State.
Although with Van Achteren, he was listed as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, so the question I'm trying to figure out is did he forfeit his final year of eligibility or is he going to use it?
Moving on, Cormier sent redshirt sophomore Gustavo Vasconcelos between the post while Marinatos sent freshman Ryan Stevens to counter. This was Steven's on-field debut for the Ospreys
The Eagles had Somersall, Lue, Zapata, Kilwien and Marriott in the starting lineup.
Stevens would suffer an injury and was replaced by junior Philip D'Amico. Not even five minutes into the first half and the Eagles were ahead 1-0 after D'Amico caused a own goal off a cross in the box. That's something I don't really see often for men's soccer.
10 minutes in, D'Amico would earn a yellow card after a hard foul on Zapata. To be honest, in all the FGCU soccer games I've seen, I never thought a goalkeeper from the opposing team would get a yellow card. Well it happened and that sent Zapata to kick a successful penalty shot to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half. This was Zapata's second goal of the season.
Stevens would return at the start of the second half. 20 minutes in, junior Ryan Medilah would get issued a yellow card for the Eagles setting up a free kick for freshman Bryson Smith, but to no avail as it was blocked.
After an unsuccessful corner kick from sophomore Collin Scott, junior Miguel Perez would increase the Eagles lead to 3-0 with assists from Vasconcelos and freshman O'Vonte Mullings. This was Perez's first goal of the season.
For Vasconcelos and Mullings, it was their first (Vasconcelos) and fourth (Mullings) assist of the season. Although I never seen a goalkeeper get an assist. It feels like it's quite rare to see.
Two minutes later, after two UNF fouls, Mullings would increase the Eagles' lead to 4-0 with his seventh goal of the season with an cross assist from sophomore Titouan "Tito" Le Menec. This was Le Menec's second assist of the season.
After another UNF yellow card issued to redshirt sophomore Adam Everett, Van Achteren would come in for Lue. Lue finished after 56 minutes of play.
Three minutes later, junior Ivan Rosales would enter in for Zapata. Zapata exited after 70 minutes of play.
After Van Achteren was issued a yellow card, redshirt sophomore Noah Bushey would sub in for Somerall, who exited after 71 minutes of play. Van Achteren would finish with 24 minutes of play.
After a yellow card was issued to junior Tom Denat, redshirt freshman Parker Holland would come in for Kilwien. The native of Pleasant Hill, California exited after 80 minutes of play.
Redshirt sophomore Thomas Delplace would sub for Marriott while fellow redshirt sophomore TC Anderson subbed in for Le Menec. Marriott would exit after 82 minutes of play.
Vasconcelos would also be subbed out after 83 minutes as redshirt freshman Josh Morgan came in. Morgan made his on-field debut after sitting out his freshman year.
With five minutes left, junior Joao Burti would hit a solo shot from inside the 18 box for his fourth goal of the season to give the Eagles a 5-0 before the end of the match.
Vasconcelos would earn his seventh win of the season and his fourth clean slate of the season, putting his record to 7-3-1. The Brazilian also added two saves to the mix.
Morgan finished with 6 minutes of play in his debut.
Despite giving up four goals, Steven did not get the loss, but did have four saves.
D'Amico would earn his seventh loss of the season, putting his record to 3-7 after giving up the first goal of the game.
The Eagles have already clinched a spot in the A-SUN Championship and are tied for first with Lipscomb. Jacksonville and Liberty have also clinched a spot in the championship.
Up Next:
The Eagles wrap up the regular as they head five hours to take on Jacksonville (4-11, 3-2 A-SUN) on Saturday, October 27 at 7 P.M.
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